I like Bill Davis. I don’t call him Billy since he failed as DC when going by Billy Davis. I just call him Bill. I have no idea if Davis will pan out in Philly, but I love listening to him talk. He knows defense. And he’s surprisingly honest for a coach. That’s rare.

Whether Davis can craft a top shelf defense and get players to perform at a high level on a consistent basis is yet to be seen. If he fails, it won’t be because he’s stupid or doesn’t communicate well. Juan Castillo didn’t inspire confidence when he talked to the media and tried to explain his ideas. If anything, he made me more concerned. Davis has the opposite effect.

He made one terrific point in a recent PC. He talked about something Chip Kelly has preached from the onset…the Eagles are a no-huddle team, not just a no-huddle offense. This comment ties in to the fact that there will be some series where the Eagles go 3 & out and the defense is right back on the field in a hurry. They must be ready to respond. Davis likes to point out the offense also can score quickly. They can go 3 & out or they can go 3 & in (to the endzone). Either way, the defense won’t be getting normal rest.

It is up to the coaches and players to be mentally and physically ready for those situations when the offense is done quickly and they need to get right back on the field.

* * * * *

Speaking of the defense…they gave up 382 yards and 27 points but still had a pretty good week. The defense is 21st in yards allowed and 20th in points allowed.

I wrote a piece this summer for The Eagles Almanac talking about how judging this defense will be different. You can’t just go off points and yards. The style of offense Kelly plays will affect the D. They have to be looked at a bit differently.

This group won’t be Gang Green or anything close, but they can do a good job in their own way.

Sheil took a look at how the Eagles ran one single play and it resulted in different outcomes since the play had several options built in and the Eagles were able to adjust to what the defense did each time. Great stuff.

3) How prepared can the Chargers be from an X’s and O’s standpoint? Jim Haslett and the Redskins watched Oregon tape for months in preparation for Chip Kelly’s offense. The Chargers are unlikely to expend those kinds of resources for a team they play once every four years.

4) After one week, the Chargers are ranked 27th in offense an 28th on defense. On the Chargers’ final 5 drives last week, they ran 13 plays. They got 10 yards, no first downs, and gave up a pick 6. They blew a 21 point lead, and now have to fly to the East coast for a 1pm game. How well will the Chargers respond to their choke job? There actually is some precedence here. Last season, the Chargers blew a 24-0 lead against Denver.

The following week, the Chargers lost 7-6 to the Browns.

Good stuff.

Speaking of the Chargers, is anyone getting emotional knowing the Eagles will go against former Birds King Dunlap and Ronnie Brown? I’m getting emotional just typing this.

Chip isn’t boring, but I do wonder how much the local media enjoys some of his strange/snarky answers. He’s not confrontational in a Parcells the bully kind of way, but Kelly isn’t afraid to say “I don’t understand your question.” Most coaches play along and throw out an answer on whatever was asked. Not Kelly. He wants a real question.

* * * * *

I’ll start previewing the Chargers on Friday.

_

mksp

Media should be careful manufacturing an agenda if they don’t like his answers.

Cause us fans are digging Chip. These PCs are super entertaining. Tip to the pros: Don’t ask stupid questions. Do your homework. Forget everything you know about sports press. Don’t ask about “momentum” or “coming to play” or “running to set up the play action.” Just stop. Be smarter. Ask relevant questions. Recognize that there is a different game in town.

We don’t know if Chip will be ultimately successful. I think what we do know is that he is thoughtful, smart and forward-thinking. Embrace these facts and be excited that you get to cover what could potentially be the most exciting team of the next decade.

GEagle

I practically stared the Gus Bus….what a mistake that was lol…Chip 4 President!!!!
…
Anyone else think a Mic’ed up Gus looked lost coaching his first game on inside the NFL?
…
My favorite thing about Chip is how much the players like him, and enjoy playing for him
…
And I love it everytime he gets gangster with a local reporter

Steag209

I love it when Chip just stares at the reporter cuz he has no idea where the question is going, and to be honest on most of them I’m confused too. The best part is because he wants to answer our questions as best he can, sure he’ll give some coach-speak every so often but normally he wants to answer every question as honest as he can without giving anything away which is remarkably refreshing in today’s media-frenzied world.

A_T_G

It is sad but true that the idea coaches actually have to understand the question to answer it is so novel. If you are just going to give a generic, coach-speak answer that mentions a player referenced in the question, you don’t really need to understand the whole question.

anon

I think he knows where they are trying to go, i think lots of times they are asking dumb questions like “do you think your team can sat focused sunday when they play the chiefs on thursday?” We should have time to review the all 22 before the press conferences so we can ask relevant questions.

http://FireFire.com/ Beavis

Chip has the philly media on its heels, its funny when you can tell even the guy asking the question ends up coming off like “damn why did i ask that question!!” LOL i love it. I just went and watched andys day after PC and wow…. change is refreshing in and of itself but add in chip kelly and its a new ball game… i mean the fan base actually seems to be getting smarter, the articles are more in depth, and i mean about football, actual football!!

Goosebumps… or is it eaglebumps???

http://FireFire.com/ Beavis

Thank god for no more Juandamentals.

GEagle

Seriously Juan was a bumbling idiot!!! I’d rather have KOTITE back, then Another year of Juan at Coordinator…..Heck of a Oline coach, but he got too big for his britches moving to the defensive side of the ball….
….
Billy Davis is a godsend…Glad people are warming up to him

Homer Frizzell

I wouldn’t say that. I would say he had trouble expressing himself.

GEagle

Juan was like Charlie Manuel, if Charlie Manuel knew nothing about what he was coaching lol

Homer Frizzell

Juan knew what he was doing but was unable to express it. After he was let go the D went down the tubes.

GEagle

NO WAY!!!! See the use of Mykal Kendricks..
…
He took a versatile, attacking LB and what did he have him do? The one thing he had o experience in, dropping into man coverage all year…..horrible use of personel during a year where we were allegedly SB contenders…
…
Now, it actually worked out fr us because we weren’t winning anything last year, and Kendricks got a year working on the 1 thing he had no experience doing…but I have a hard time saying Juan put players in a position to succeed

Homer Frizzell

Now you’re just trying to make yourself look like you were right with your first comment which you weren’t.
Calling him a “bumbling idiot” is hyperbolic.

GEagle

Actually I was joking, and I changed it to take into account the ultra sensitive pussies because I didn’t feel like getting in a pissing match today(if I’m being honest)…I joked at first, and then when I sensed a stick up your ass, I seriously elaborated to avoid the smug nonsense…yet here we are again. Happy? was this what you were looking for? Always happy to Oblige, but I prefer the intelligent and respectful discussions way more….however I am not beneath “slumming” it with people who want to senselessly talk trash…

A_T_G

I know you are using a bit of hyperbole, but I think you are punishing Juan for the final outcome, rather than his impact. Juan was a risk that became a disappointment, but he wasn’t an idiot. His contribution can seen in how much worse the defense was without him. This was certainly not a case of addition by subtraction.

GEagle

Juan had NO BUSINESS EVER being a defensive Coordinator…NONE whatsoever!!! I think he is a very good Oline coach…lbut yes, as a D coordinator I view him as an idiot

Homer Frizzell

Better said. Thank you.

http://FireFire.com/ Beavis

Yerp. 10-4 good buddy

Anders

Tommy, the D actually only gave up 20 points. 7 of them was on a “fumble”. I never understood why NFL includes points on fumble/int returns and punt/KO returns in the defenses total and the same the other way around on offense (why should a pathetic offense gets credit for a return TD?)

Anthony Hart

20 points would make us the the #10 scoring defense, not too shabby for a game where we were picked to get smoked.

TommyLawlor

Excellent point. Lazy by me.

Totally agree on the flawed stats. Would be great if they just listed points allowed specifically by the defense.

ACViking

I think, by the end of a 16 game schedule, those kinds of points become tenths of a point (more or less) as a percentage of total points allowed.

Regardless, for a league that is making the games incredibly slow — with just about every big play under review and lots of commercials — in the interests of precise decision-making, YOU ARE RIGHT!!!

Daniel Norman Richwine

We need a serious article on how sports science plays into what Chip is trying to do on offense and defense. Smoothies and sprints in June means high play tempo in September.

GEagle

Can’t….too much of it is kept a secret. Heck players really believe in our recovery methods, problem is none of them will talk about it…I would love to find out, but I enjoy the competitive advantage(if there is one)….more!

OregonDucker

Too Top Secret. It’s a competitive advantage.

Media Mike

A part of Davis is judging players and not plays. To a certain extent if you’re overmatched like RedZone McDermott or Castillo, no system is going to work. Davis seems to be putting guys in position to make plays, but there are some personnel decisions that could be improved. I like the start, but we’re far from there in terms of the 53 man roster and 46 active.

Anders

Agree, give Kelly and Davis 2 more drafts before we fully judge them. Kelly do not 100% have HIS QB and Davis lacks better OLBs and safeties to do what he truly wants

GEagle

I would be content with 1 more offseason of defensive additions…however we would still be on your two year time frame because those defenders we draft next May need to be developed for a year….but player addition wise, we aren’t as far off as people think:
1)Safety
..
2)OLB
..
3) CB the play of Bradley Fletcher will decide what caliber of CB we need to add
…
4) Don’t really need any Dlinemen…maybe a space Eater backup to Logan when Soap retires…we still have Kruger who I believe in to develope

Anders

1) Safety, try to sign one or two of TJ Ward, Byrd or Chris Clemons next off season

2) The only OLB worth any thing next year in FA is Orakpo and he wont hit FA.

3) I think Fletcher+Williams is fine as starters for now, but as you said, try to add a young guy early in the draft

GEagle

How is Ward? I’m not too familiar with his game…
Bryd is the obvious wishful thinking LONGSHOT…then you have name brand guys like Ryan Clarke.
You know I love Pollard but he is a horrible match with Chung. I do like Clemons…
…
Orakpo us interesting in that the skins already have no money. They are getting Alfred for peanuts, he ill need to be paid. If they want to keep Orakpo, I feel like they might have to blow it all up like the Ravens did

Man, it’s already Friday!!!!! Two days left til our boys get to run Wild again!!!!
..
“Good times, scratching and surviving…Good times”

GermanEagle

Since I’m superstitious:

Eagles 41, Chargers 0.

TommyLawlor

How’s parenthood?

GermanEagle

It’s all good in the (parent) hood. Not getting much sleep with the girls though, so I watched all of the Pats/Jets struggle in the middle of the night.

ACViking

And you think you’re tired now?

OregonDucker

My take: Eagles 55, Chargers 24

ian_no_2

Imagine if Billy Martin went to Bill after leading the Rangers to a 44-51 campaign in ’73.

BlindChow

From ESPN’s Rapid Reaction to last night’s Jets game:

“[Geno] Smith missed some vertical passes, throwing behind receivers. Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg did him no favors, calling too many downfield passes. Mornhinweg gave up on the run late in the game.”

Heh heh.

Always Hopeful

Sad, just sad. Old habits die hard.

eagleyankfan

and I quote “When Steve Spurrier came to the NFL, we all said “well that isn’t so great after all”. When Chip Kelly came, we were just about speechless.”
test 2, in 2 days.

HipDaDip

So what’s the best game plan against the Chargers? It sounds like they’d be smart to try to load up to stop the run, so trying to throw on them is smart, right? Or am I missing the point – is Chip’s strategy about taking advantage of personnel rather than scheme. If the chargers are relatively more balanced (DBs are about as good as front 7 [is that correct?], whereas Redskins had weaker secondary), is the plan to rely on our TEs and add flexibility? Their fan pages sound like they’re scared of our 11 personnel, but I’m not sure Chip cares about a chess match with the defensive coordinator as much as preying on weak links in the defense.

robspassky

Here’s a good article from Chargers’s SB Nation site about the Philly offense:

Thanks. I read that, it’s what inspired my question initially. It sounds like they’re expecting the same offense as wk1, and I think they are mistaken. But I’m not sure what dictates the offense Chip calls – predicted scheme or personnel.

OregonDucker

The Chargers have a very weak secondary. They have to double DJax and this will free Maehl. I know – I have an Oregon bias; but Maehl will fly under the radar. He and Coop will make some great plays.

After getting burned, the Chargers will go to prevent and Shady/Brown/Polk will absolutely run wild.

I expect lots and lots of TDs from the Eagles.

ACViking

Re: Flagging Franchise

I can’t think of another team that’s nose-dived as dramatically as the Chargers have in the past 6 years — starting when former GM let Drew Brees walk in favor of Phillip Rivers.

The Chargers of the ’00s were the reincarnation of the best Chargers of the Air Coryell era (’78-’82). Amazing individual talent but unable to win the big one in the playoffs.

Now . . . the Chargers are like the picked-over carcus of a blue ribbon bull. The change from perennial All Pro OLT Marcus McNeil (Eagles passed on him for WJustice) to perennial All Revolving Door King Dunlap is a perfect paradigm for how this team has fallen . . . and how fast.

They’re nothing now.

I’ll be shocked if the Eagles don’t threaten some NFL offensive records on Sunday. On defense, I’ll be surprised if the defense is not beating on Rivers and forcing multiple TOs.

This game has the feel of the Eagles circa 1980 and 2004 — when you knew they’d kick the living life out of bad visiting teams. And the Chargers are just that.

I’m not a limb walker by nature. But I just don’t see this game as a contest.

Always Hopeful

Love the history you bring AC. I know you have a balanced seasoned perspective too. So if YOU feel it’s going to be bad for the Chargers, I’m all ears, ’cause you’re like E.F. Hutton to me! Young folks won’t get that one

ACViking

Re: Chips Pictures and Rabbit Ears

T-Law:

Do you think any NFL team with the Eagles on its schedule is photographing what’s happening on the sideline with Chip’s pictures etc. when he’s calling a play, and then linking it to the coaches tape?

Or is that cheating (assuming one can make sense of it) — or merely “attempted” cheating (because what sane person not in green could make sense of it)?

OregonDucker

I don’t think it matters AC. Some of these plays have 3-4 options depending upon the Ds reaction. Also, the DC will not have time to set the defense; even if he did, he probably will not have the right role players.

BlindChow

Since colleges have been doing similar things in games for awhile now, I assume it hasn’t really turned out to be an issue.

Donate to Iggles Blitz

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